Michael Schumacher has been in hospital since December 29, 2013. (Photo: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images)

An expert has admitted he is alarmed by reports Michael Schumacher has lost a quarter of his body weight while laying comatose in France.

Although the great German’s family manager Sabine Kehm and close friend Jean Todt insist they have not given up on the hope of full recovery, almost 12 weeks have now passed since the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver’s skiing fall.

Aleix Espargaro rounds the bend during first practice at Losail International Circuit. (Photo: Getty Images)

Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) set the pace in the opening FP1 session of the year for the premier class in Qatar, with Alvaro Baustista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) second and third respectively.

In the first Grand Prix practice session of the new ‘Open’ class era it was Espargaro in P1 with his Open entry Forward Yamaha with a 1:55.201 best lap, with Bautista 0.466s behind him. Espargaro’s pace was over 0.3s slower than he went in testing here two weeks ago.